Christmas

2007's Tree. Used the big, non-blinking "Grampa" style lights this year.

For the first time since I started my "new" job at CollabNet 10 months ago I had some real time off. The company closed for the last week of December and reopened January 2nd. This was fortunate timing as my whole family descends on our little corner of NH for Christmas and some serious cleaning needed to be done to get ready for them.

The Dinner table at my in-laws side of the compound.

I only recently moved into my new office and my old office off the bedroom had turned from a once neat, if small workspace, into a Superfund site. It alone took a day to clean. Seriously, a 7'x4' nook took 10 hours to clean. I should have just rented a flamethrower. The Brides office/dumping ground was in an even worse state.

Mary, Lenny, Suzy, and Mom apparently about to get down to some serious drinking.

But eventually everything got cleaned to the Bride's satisfaction. I was particularly excited this year because my brother and I were planning to take my nephews skiing the day after Christmas. Unfortunately T was sick as a dog when he arrived the afternoon of the 25th and it was clear that he wasn't likely to rebound sufficiently to ski the next day.

How could this child get so dirty indoors while the evening is still young? I've seen cleaner sanitation engineers getting off a double shift. It doesn't matter. Look at that face. You just ain't going to get mad at him.

T did have enough energy to open gifts of course and we performed our usual gift exchange. I got the boys Star Wars Fatheads, Darth Vader and Yoda, which they loved...oh wait, they didn't. Because Fathead ships via DHL, which must stand for Delays in Handling Likely. I paid extra to have the Fatheads arrive the day before Christmas, but they shipped one to the wrong distribution center and the other was listed as "with courier for delivery" for the entire week. I'll stop before I enter rant mode, but DHL is a joke. How they stay in business is a mystery on par with the origin of life, how to beat the Patriots, and a proof for the Riemann Hypothesis.

These demonic elves have sat on this poor deer's head for Holiday the past 30 years (as if being shot and eaten was indignity enough). The Bride used to have bad dreams about them.


Over at our side of the house for the gift exhange.

This years meal was downright traditional compared with the Bride's normally adventurous menu. Her Dad had bagged two deer this year, so despite the Bride's normal prohibitions against terrestrial meat, a venison roast was served. Bruny, who essentially eats only meat from what I can tell, approved so much he dispensed with any utensils before ripping in. When told to use a fork, he said, "T-Rex doesn't use a fork!"

The Bride gives her new pan some love.


T musters the strength to hold his sickness at bay long enough to bellow, "Behold my magnificent Mars Mission Lego set. Bow down to its superior piece count and inappropriate age rating. Who among you is worthy enough to build it for me?"

The Bear falls asleep on his Dad after a very long day.

With skiing cancelled we did some sledding the the 26th and also broke out the Bride's almost 30 year old Yamaha Bravo snowmobile. This thing is a classic, a single cylinder 250cc air-cooled two-stroke it comes from the time before global warming. I never tire of blasting around the yard with it.

Boony works it to stay in the track.

T is just too heavy for me to pull up the hill any more. So he must climb on his own...

...and then call it a day after all that work.

Hey, that thing isn't a bench!

That's more like it.

The Bear does not turn down snowmobile rides. Ever.

Minime and me. It may not look it since I'm a bearded freak in this pic, but my nephew looks just like me. Handsome kid. He'll do well with the ladies ;-)

Dana shows off the latest in sledding haute couture.

Of course no Christmas would be complete without a driveway duel between Yoda and Darth Maul. If you are at least 30% geek (or 20% nerd) and don't yet own one of these, then shame on you.

Well that's all for now. Hopefully going to get back to posting more regularly. Part II of the Expansion is loooong overdue, Jabba wants Halloween pics, and I know the public is just clamoring for my shim method how-to for quieting Avid Juicy Seven squeal!

ptb